A group has applied for permits to race jet boats in Oregon. The Oregon State Marine Board is taking comments on whether the Southern Oregon Power Boat Association should be granted a permit to race on the Wilamette river May 25-26.

With the latest addition to the 2008 Unlimited Lights schedule, that makes 9 events for 2008. On the official calender, there's also a TBA date in September. Plus, at the bottom of the calendar on the ULHRA website, there's a note that says TBA: Oregon. So there may be more races still to be announced.

The off season work for the U-13 Spirit of Detroit team started a few weeks later than expected. According to Jeff Kelly, U-13 crew member, the team had an electrical fire in the team hauler on the way home from the season ending race at San Diego in September.

That delayed getting the boat back to Washington state to begin the winter maintenance. Everything's on track now, though.

In addition to driving the U-13 Spirit of Detroit hydro, J. Michael Kelly also will drive a 2.5 modified, a 5 litre hydro for Dave Bartush, and share a seat time with his sister Kristina in the A stock division in 2008.

The view from Evansville: Water's high now; pits are covered. No racing today, but just about 4 months until the first boat hits the water. River's normally high this time of year, but hopefully back down in late June!

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The 2nd Annual Bernie Little Memorial Classic Raceboat Regatta will take place April 4-6, 2008 in tavares, Florida at Wooton Park. Some mileage reimbursement is available for participants for both Saturday and Sunday events.

Hydroplane racing returns to Polson this summer, for the first time in years, in the form of the Radio Waves Regatta, a new race that just became an official stop on the Unlimited Light Hydroplanes Racing Association tour. More from The Missoulian >>

World Water Speed Record Attempt: It's 42 ft long, weighs four tons, has 25,000 horsepower and its creator says it can run on the water at 400mph. A British team has spent 10 years researching and building what they believe will be the world's fastest boat. In early 2009, they hope to put it to the test and break Ken Warby's world water speed record of 317.6 mph.

Some good things happening with the ULHRA. There's a new 3-year deal to race at Polson, Montana (Flathead Lake) and the number of Unlimited Lights team continues to grow. Last year, there were 23 hydroplanes that competed. More teams have joined the fleet for 2008.

Former Seattle Seafair President & CEO Beth Wojick has a new job. Beth will be the Executive Director of Business Development for One Reel, a non-profit arts and cultural organization, which puts on a number of local and regional events in the Northwest.

In between Seafair and One Reel, she worked as VP of Corporate Partnerships with the Seattle Seahawks.

The Unlimited Lights have seven race sites scheduled as of now, but there will likely be more announced shortly. John Lynch reports: "Discussions are ongoing with other sites so it is possible that the seven event schedule may increase in the very near future."

Some good news from the Tri-City Water Follies: Happy to report that all loans and debts have been paid off and they are back to solid financial footing. With Lamb Weston as a title sponsor again for 2008, things look good for the future.

How to build a hydro (circa 1959): "Has the design of unlimiteds become static? Not on your life. (Les) Staudacher is working on a jet-propelled boat for Joe Schoenith. Who's to say that future Gold Cup competitors might not all be jets?"